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' G. D. COLEMAN.

SHIPS RIGGING.

No. 414,631. l y Patented Nov. 5, X889.

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" UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE I). COLEMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HARRY LE PATOUREL'OF SAME PLACE.

SHIPS RIGGING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters IPatent No. 414,631, dated November 5, 1889.

Application filed December 24, 1888. Serial No. 294,526. (No model.)

To all whom zit may concern: the ratline not being free to rotate, the strands Beit known that I, GEORG-E D. COLEMAN, thus exposed are soon worn through, thus a citizen of the United States, residing at rendering the ratline liable to break at this Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of worn place. It is to obviate these objections 55 5 Illinois, have invented a certain new and usethat I have devised my present invention, the

ful Improvement in Rigging, which is fully construction of which is as follows:

set forth in the following specification, refer- In the drawings the shrouds are represented ence being had to the accompanying drawat A, four of these being shown in the presings, in whichent instance, the number varying according 6o 1o Figure l represents an elevation of a porto the circumstances of each case. They are tion of a ships rigging'embodying my invenconstructed, as usual, of wire rope, although, tion; Fig. 2, an enlarged detail view of a porof course, other suitable material may be emtion of the saine; Fig. 3, a plan view, partly ployed. The ratlines proper are shown at B,

'in section, of the construction shown in Fig. and are preferably constructed of wire rope, 65

I 5 2; Fig. 4:, a plan View of a modified form of although other suitable material may be my invent-ion; Fig. 5, an elevation of a secemployed therefor. The clamping devices, ond modiiication; FiOfG, a plan view, partly whereby the ratlines are connected to the in section, of the construction shown in Fig. shrouds, are shown at C. These clamping 5; and Fie'. '7,a detail perspective view of a devices are constructed in two different 7o zo portion of the device. forms, to wit, those which embrace the end Like letters refer to like parts in all the shrouds and those which embrace the int-en iigures of the drawings. mediate shrouds. The form first referred My invention relates to rigging, and more to is shown at the right of Figs. 2 and 3 particularly to that portion of the standing and in Fig. fl, and consists of two separable 7 5 25 rigging known as ratlines, and has for its halves c, having formed between them an object to provide means whereby the ratlines aperture C', of a diameter corresponding to may be readily and firmly attached tothe that of the shroud to which it is to be secured. shrouds, kept taut, and prevented from sag- Sharp teethr or projections c are formed on ging and from wearing unequally. the interior of this aperture to engage with 8o 3o To these ends myinvention consists in certhe shroud and hold the clamping devices more tain novel features, which -I will now proceed firmly in position. The two members c, of to describe, and will then particularly point which the clamp Gis composed, are connected out in the claims. together by means of screws O2, and there is In standing rigging asv ordinarily conformed in the end of 4the clamping device a 85 35 structed, the ratlines are connected to the spherical recess or socket c2, for the purpose shroud by forming their ends into a suitable hereinafter described. The clamping devices, eye by splicing, the said eye surrounding the which are mounted on the intermediate .shroud and being secured thereto by lashing shrouds, and which are shown at the left in orseizing. rl`his lashing or seizing frequently Figs. 2 and 3, and also in Figs. 5 and 6, are 9o io wears through, owing to chafing of the runsimilar in construction, consisting of two sepning rigging or to other causes, and when arate halves c, provided with a central aperthis occurs, as soon as any weight is placed ture C', having teeth c', and connected by .upon the ratline it gives way, either slipping means of screws C2. In `this case, however,

from its position or breaking. Moreover, the a spherical recess or socket c2 is provided at 9 5 45 ratlne itself stretches from const-ant use, and each end of the clamping device, instead of soon takes a permanent sag, which not only at one end only, as in the construction just renders it an unsafe footing, but also injures described. the appearance of the standing rigging. The Each ratline B is provided at each of its wear, of course, comes entirely upon that porends with an end piece D, which is connected roo 5o tion of the ratliue which is uppermost, and to the corresponding clamping device by a since the same portion is always uppermost, .universal joint. In. the structure shown in Figs. l, 2', and 3 this is elected by providing' the end piece D with a ball orsphere d, which its within the corresponding socket c2 ot the clamping-piece and is retained therein, while at the same time it allows free play in all directions at this point. composed of two separate members D and D2. The former of these members has the form of an internally-threaded cup, to which the ball d is connected by a reduced neck d', and into which the other member screws, as shown in Fig. 3. This other .member D2 is apertured longitudinally to receive the end of the ratline B, the said aperture being comparatively small at one end,`as shown at d2, and being enlarged from that point onward, as shown at di. The end of the ratline is provided with lli enlargement, as shown at b, and a coiled spring D3, arranged within the aperture d3, 'abuts at one end against this enlargement, its other end abutting against the shoulder di lat the other end of the recess cl3. The two members D and D2 are of a like external diameter, so that the exterior surface of the end length, and the member D2 is tapered or conical in shape, as shown, so as to present a smooth incline from the surface ot the ratline, instead of an abrupt shoulder.

VThe universal joint connecting the end 'piece of the ratline to the clamping device -inay be constructed in any suitable manner, and 1 have shown in the drawings two modi- 'fied forms of this connection. The first is shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, in which there is interposed between the clamping vdevice C and end piece D a two-part link or connection F., the two members of which are connected by a swivel-joint e. The end piece D is pivoted to one member of this link, as indicated at e', and the other member of the link is pivoted to the clamping device C, as shown at c2. By this construction a free 'movement in all directions, aswell as freedoin ofrotation of the ratline, is obtained, as in the construction in Figs. l, 2, and 3; butI deem the construction first described preferable, for the reason that it is simpler and stronger and occupies much less space. The second modiiication is shown in Figs. 5 and 6, in which the clamping device C is provided with a pivot pin F, passing horizontally through the same and having a central enlargement or ball f, through which passes' a pivot-pin F', attached to the end piece D.

`This construction allows a free movement in lall directions and forms practically a universal joint, but it has the advantage of not permitting' the ratline to rotate.

The device illustrated in Fig. 7 is employed Y as a substitute for the clamping devices on the intermediate shrouds at and near the upper ends of these latter. At this point the yshrouds approach each other so closely that the clamping devices and end pieces described would occupy almost all the space be tween. the shrouds and render the ratline su- Each end piece D is perluous and useless. vTo overcome this difficulty, I employ at this point only the clamping-pieces on the outer shrouds, employing a The ratline B passes between the yoke and the shroud and rests upon this roller. The object of this devicefis to hold the ratline rmly in position` and prevent its chafing against the shrouds at this point.

The construction which I have just de.

scribed operates to overcome the disadvantages attendant upon theordinary construction in a sufiiciently obvious manner. fThe ratlines may be readily connected -to the shrouds at any desired point and as readily disconnected by meansl of the clamping -devices for that purpose, and when thus connected they are not only rmly held in position, but all danger of displacement, owing to chaing or wear, is entirely done away with. The ratlines may yield to the foot, as does the ordinary ratline; but the spring, D3 will always return them to a taut position, thereby preventing their sagging and preserving a neat appearance. The employment of the universal joint to connect the ratline to the clamping device prevents any danger of wear or breakage at this point,which danger would be present were the connection a rigid one. Moreover, the ratline being free to rotate, the wear is distributed equally over its whole surface, and a much longer service is thereby obtained than is obtained from the ordinary ratline.

It is obvious that various modifications in the details of construction and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the principle of my invention, and I therefore do not wish to be understood as limitin g myself strictly tothe precise details hereinbefore described, and shown in the drawings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure'by Letters Patent, is-` 1. The combinatiomwith the shrouds, of the metallic clamping-pieces mounted thereon, the ratlines, and the metallic end pieces secured to and inclosing the ends of the ratlines and connected to the clamping-pieces, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The combination, with the shrouds A and ratlines B, of the clamping devices C, connected to the ends of the ratlines, andeach consisting of two members c, having-between them the aperture C to fit the shroud provided with teeth c to enter the shroud, and connecting-screws C2, to clamp the two members upon the shroud, substantially as and for the l purposes specified.

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3. The combinationmfiththe shrouds, of the clamping-pieces mounted thereon, and the ratlines connected to said clamping-pieces by a universal joint at each end, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. The combination, with the shrouds and the clamping-pieces mounted thereon and provided with suitable sockets, of the ratlines having end pieces provided with balls to fit said socket-s, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. The combination, Wit-h the shrouds and the clamping-pieces mounted thereon, of the ratlines connected at their ends to said clamping-pieces by a swivel-joint,whereby said ratlines are free to rotate, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. The combination, with the slirouds and the clamping-pieces mounted thereon, of the ratlines connected to said clamping-pieces, and a spring` or springs connected with said ratlines to keep them taut, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

7. The eo1nbination,wth the shroud A and clamping-piece C, ofthe ratline B, having end piece D connected thereto, and consisting of the members D and D2, the latter apertured to receive the end of the ratline,which is prof GEORGE D. COLEMAN. Witnesses:

CARRIE FEIGEL, IRVINE MILLER. 

